Some parents in Lincoln are refusing to change their baby's nappy in the city's new bus station as they say the facilities are not private enough.

Baby change facilities are not in a separate cubicle in the upstairs public toilets of the bus station - a changing table has been placed in a shared area near the entrance of the toilets where both men and women walk by.

Parents also have to pay 20p to use the toilets and changing station.

There are more private baby changing facilities downstairs in separate cubicles, but you have to ask a member of staff to let you in.

The baby changing facilities are out in the open

One mother Jessica Irwin has complained to City of Lincoln Council about these facilities as she said they are just not good enough.

She said: "Whilst I was going through the turnstile to the toilets I realised it's a communal corridor which people of both sexes use.

"Then I found out the baby changing unit is in the middle of a public corridor. A male, whom I don't know, had to walk past my half naked daughter to put his hand towel in the bin next to us.

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"I'm not saying it has to be a completely blocked off part but even a cubicle upstairs.

"I'm absolutely disgusted that they think it's OK for anybody to walk past my daughter whilst she is in a vulnerable state, and to pay [20p] for the privilege is even worse.

Once you pay 20p you are directed left or right depending on which sex you are

"Perhaps there should be a better screening system in place for children. You have disabled toilets, so those vulnerable people have privacy, why can a baby not have privacy?"

Jessica submitted a complaint to City of Lincoln council on May 10 and she received a response from Cleansing Services Officer Shane Harrison.

He said the toilets have been designed in such a way to deter vandalism and that's why the facilities are out in the open.

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Part of the response said: "Unfortunately, some of our other toilets suffer vandalism and this includes the baby changing areas.

"Vandalism can range between minor damage to making equipment like baby changing or night toilets unserviceable.

The baby changing is close to the turnstiles

"A minority of cases are damaged because of drug abuse.

"Incorporated within the design at the bus station there is a charge of 20p and the baby changing is in the open, which actually prevents misuse because the actual act of vandalism is usually committed in private so without witnesses.

"Due to the lack of damage it can be assumed this implementation is successful."

When contacted by Lincolnshire Live, Mr Harrison said: "We are very sorry for any distress this may have caused the lady in question and we would like to assure her that her concerns are being taken seriously.

“The main baby change is part of the Changing Places facility on the ground floor, and this can be accessed free of charge by speaking to a member of staff.

“We have added a second baby changing facility on the first floor, which is in addition to the main changing facility.

“This complaint has raised a valid concern about how well signposted the main baby change is, and we will be looking to improve this as soon as possible.”

Jessica has now launched a petition to try and get the baby changing facilities changed to private.